Over 654,000 Pets Relinquished to Animal Shelters in 2023

Animal shelters are filling up with beloved pets whose human families can no longer afford them. Experts say it's happening across the country. According to the organization Stray Animals Count, more than 654,000 dogs and cats in the United States have been relinquished by their owners between January and November 2023. Some shelters are waiving fees in order to get pets adopted, especially for large dogs. But full kennels have unfortunately become common.